Association between periodontal inflamed surface area and systemic inflammatory biomarkers among pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

Background: Several studies have shown an association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and periodontitis. However, only few studies have quantified the burden of periodontal inflammation in pre-dialysis CKD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the association between periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) and systemic inflammatory biomarkers among pre-dialysis CKD patients.

aMMP-8 Oral Fluid PoC Test in Relation to Oral and Systemic Diseases.

The manuscript uses the previously published literature and highlights the benefits of active-matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP)-8 chairside/point-of-care (PoC) diagnostic tools as adjunctive measures in oral and systemic diseases. Previous studies suggest that as a biomarker, aMMP-8 is more precise than total MMP-8, MMP-9, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, MMP-7, MMP-1, calprotectin, myeloperoxidase (MPO), human neutrophil elastase (HNE), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, and bleeding of probing (BOP). Therefore, aMMP-8 could be implemented as the needed key biomarker for the new disease classification for both periodontitis and peri-implantitis.

Ability of matrix metalloproteinase-8 biosensor, IFMA, and ELISA immunoassays to differentiate between periodontal health, gingivitis, and periodontitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic utility of an MMP-8 biosensor assay in differentiating periodontal health from gingivitis and periodontitis and compare it with an established time-resolved immunofluorescence assay (IFMA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Background: Currently available antibody-based assays display a wide variability in their ability to accurately measure matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) levels in saliva.

Methods: Salivary MMP-8 levels were analyzed in 189 systemically healthy participants using an antibody-based biosensor prototype that operates using a surface acoustic wave technology and compared with IFMA and ELISA antibody assays.

Active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) point-of-care test (POCT) in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Active matrix metalloproteinase (aMMP)-8 utilized in point-of-care testing (POCT) is regarded as a potential biomarker for periodontal and peri-implant diseases. Various host and microbial factors eventually influence the expression, degranulation, levels and activation of aMMP-8. The type of oral fluids (saliva, mouthrinse, gingival crevicular, and peri-implant sulcular fluids [GCF/PISF], respectively) affect the analysis.

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinases-8, -9 and endogenous tissue inhibitor-1 in oral biofluids during pregnancy and postpartum.

Objective: During pregnancy, mothers undergoe considerable physiological changes affecting the whole body including periodontal tissues. Susceptibility to gingival inflammation during pregnancy could be mediated by modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate salivary and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) levels of MMPs and TIMPs during the second and third trimester of pregnancy and postpartum.

Periodontal disease and targeted prevention using aMMP-8 point-of-care oral fluid analytics in the COVID-19 era.

Periodontal disease is a chronic multifactorial infectious and inflammatory disease associated with several chronic systemic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, Alzheimer's disease and so on. These same systemic diseases have been associated with severe COVID-19 infections. Several recent studies have suggested hypotheses for the potential association between periodontal disease and severe COVID-19.

Nigeria's street children, epitome of oral health disparity and inequality.

Introduction: it has been close to four years since the authors highlighted the total neglect of the oral health of street children in the Journal of Public Health Policy. Since then, the authorities appear to have simply turned the blind eye making this follow-up imperative. This follow-up report specifically examines the resultant oral health disparity between Nigeria's street children and Private, fee-paying secondary school students in Northern Nigeria.

aMMP-8 Point-of-Care/Chairside Oral Fluid Technology as a Rapid, Non-Invasive Tool for Periodontitis and Peri-Implantitis Screening in a Medical Care Setting.

This communication article addresses currently available rapid non-invasive methods to screen and detect periodontitis and dental peri-implantitis. In this regard, oral fluid biomarkers have been researched extensively but self-reported oral health (SROH)-questionnaires have also been developed. Both alternatives may offer a quick and easy way to screen and detect diseased patients.

Active MMP-8 (aMMP-8) as a Grading and Staging Biomarker in the Periodontitis Classification.

The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of incorporating active matrix metalloproteinase-8 (aMMP-8) as a biomarker into the new periodontitis classification system (stage/grade) presented in 2018. This study included 150 Greek adults aged 25-78, of whom 74 were men and 76 women. Participants were tested with an aMMP-8 point-of-care mouthrinse test, after which a full-mouth clinical examination was performed to assess their periodontal and oral health.

On the diagnostic discrimination ability of mouthrinse and salivary aMMP-8 point-of-care testing regarding periodontal health and disease.

This study investigated the diagnostic utility of mouthrinse and saliva in aMMP-8 measurements to analyze patients' risk for active periodontal tissue destruction and progression of periodontal disease among 47 adolescents. Results show that measurements from mouthrinse produce better discrimination and should be used instead of saliva measurements.

Oral health knowledge and practice of 12 to 14-year-old Almajaris in Nigeria: A problem of definition and a call to action.

We studied oral health knowledge and practices of 12 to 14-year-old Almajiri boys in northern Nigeria because we found few studies on their health, and none on their oral health. We present our study after explaining the desperate life circumstances and context of Nigeria's approximately 10 million Almajiri youth. Our results, when compared with those of previously studied populations (those most similar in terms of environment, age range, and oral health characteristics) show that the Almajiris fare poorly.

Pilot Study on Oral Health Status as Assessed by an Active Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Chairside Mouthrinse Test in Adolescents.

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8 is a major destructive collagenase involved in periodontitis and can be regarded as a periodontitis biomarker. A neutrophil collagenase 2 (active MMP-8 [aMMP-8]) oral fluid immunoassay has recently been demonstrated to be a periodontitis risk indicator among adults. The aim of this study is to investigate whether a point-of-care mouthrinse test based on an aMMP-8 immunoassay could identify patients with oral inflammatory burden (periodontitis and caries) among adolescents with early pathologic findings.

Aggressive periodontitis in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

Aim: These case series were aimed at highlighting late presentations of aggressive periodontitis (AP) in a teaching hospital as well as proffering possible reasons for such presentations which would serve as part of the solution to prevent such presentations in the future.

Background: Aggressive periodontitis is a severe form of destructive periodontitis traditionally believed to present around puberty. However, many cases seen in a teaching hospital presented much later for yet-to-be explained reasons.

Another reason for impeccable oral hygiene: oral hygiene-sperm count link.

Objectives: 1. To investigate the relationship between periodontitis and infertility. 2.

Nigerian dentists' knowledge of aggressive periodontitis.

Objective: To assess the general knowledge of Nigerian dentists on aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and specific knowledge of distinguishing between the clinical features of localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) and generalized aggressive periodontitis (GAP).

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional, non-random convenience survey was done on 200 dentists, in three geopolitical zones of Nigeria, using pre-tested, closed question- type questionnaires. Eventually, only 133 questionnaires were analyzed.

Emerging trends in dental specialty choice in Nigeria.

Asymmetry in the distribution of dental specialists in Nigeria has the potential to negatively affect dental education at all levels. There is a dearth in Nigerian studies on the trends of influencing factors on the choice of dental specialty in Nigeria. Past efforts have not resulted in policy change thus necessitating the current study.

Nigeria's costly complacency and the global tobacco epidemic.

Although smoking prevalence rates remain far lower in Nigeria than in Europe, they are rising, particularly as multinational tobacco companies target youth and work to regain the revenues they are losing in Europe and north America. This article recounts 25 years of Nigeria's tobacco control policy and presents every bit of evidence available about smoking prevalence rates and trends that show troubling increases, especially among youth. It concludes with recommendations for urgent and comprehensive action in Nigeria and by the World Health Organization (WHO) organized largely on a framework provided by the WHO.

Assessment of dental waste management in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

This study assessed the practice of disposing of waste from the eight dental clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. All the cleaners (14) in the hospitals were surveyed through questionnaire. Information obtained from the cleaners included socio-economic characteristics (biodata), personal protection, facilities available for them to work with and job satisfaction.

Smokers' melanosis in a Nigerian population: a preliminary study.

Aim: Terms relating to pigmentation of the oral mucosa include physiologic (racial) pigmentation, oral pigmented nevi, oral melanotic maculae, melanoma, and smokers' melanosis. The literature is replete with studies about oral mucosal pigmentation which is thought to result from melanin incontinence. The documented etiological factors are both local and systemic and include hormones, drugs, smoking, and idiopathic causes.